Our History
The Parish of Saint Dimitrios Moonee Ponds was founded on the 6 March 1962.
The community focused on providing afternoon Greek education in various locations and held the Divine Liturgy in different halls in the region. This made the first few years difficult as the priest and the committee would always have the liturgical paraphernalia with them, set up for the service, and then dismantle it for another time and place.
Early in 1968, the first church was established in a hall at 71 The Parade, Ascot Vale and remained there until the end of 1975. The current church at 1 Gladstone Street, Moonee Ponds was built in 1975. It was officially opened on 14 December of that year. The consecration took place on 7 May 1978.
The parish was serviced by various priests, but the longest serving was Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Panagiotis Stylianopoulos of blessed memory. He started this mission in May of 1974 and served until his passing on 21 May 2022, an amazing 48 years later. In the early 1980s, the community concentrated on building the Greek school and Community Centre, across the road from the church.
On 21 June 1998, an extraordinary general meeting was held where a majority of members of the community voted in favour of becoming a parish. In March 2003, Father Emmanuel Lykopandis became the assistant priest to Father Panagiotis and together they cared for and serviced the needs of the parish for almost 20 years. In July 2022, Father John Frangos became our newly appointed parish priest followed by Archimandrite Kyrillos in March 2026.
Our Patron Saint
Saint Dimitrios the Myrrh Bearer
Saint Dimitrios was born in 270AD in Thessaloniki to noble and wealthy parents. His heroic spirit led him to become a high-ranking officer in the Roman Army at a young age. This is why in iconography he is depicted in military dress, either standing or astride a horse and usually holding a Cross or the spear with which he was martyred.
The Roman Empire at the time was predominantly pagan, which meant Christians were persecuted if they did not convert to paganism. Emperor Maximian loathed all Christians and tortured them for sport. Unbeknownst to Maximian, one of his most trusted soldiers was a secret Christian and instead of capturing his fellow Christians, Dimitrios protected them. Despite his notable status, military duties were secondary to his missionary work, where he preached the Gospel at secret meetings and converted pagans to Christianity. Dimitrios saw himself, first and foremost, as a soldier of Christ.
At one of these meetings, Dimitrios was discovered, captured and brought before the emperor who demanded the truth about the conversions and Dimitrios’ faith. Dimitrios proclaimed “…only in Christ do I believe.”
With that proclamation, Maximian sent Dimitrios to prison and ordered him to be subject to the cruellest tortures. Imprisonment did not discourage Dimitrios. He continued to preach the Gospel to those who came to visit him. Maximian on the other hand had organised gladiator games as a duel between paganism and Christianity. The emperor offered a reward to whoever could beat his prized gladiator, Lyaeus, who was a barbaric wrestler. He challenged the Thessalonians to fight him. Lyaeus was incredibly tall and strong and all who opposed him were defeated. Nestoras, a young follower of Dimitrios, decided to fight the gladiator himself. Nestoras visited Dimitrios in prison and asked for his beloved teacher’s blessing to defeat Lyaeus single-handedly in the next duel.
With the blessing of Dimitrios, Nestoras entered the stadium and stood before his opponent. Maximian was reluctant to pit Nestoras against Lyaeus as he was young and of small stature but offered him the reward for his daring. Maximian said, “Take my gift and keep your life, but do not hurl yourself against Lyaeus who has defeated many more powerful than you.”
Nestoras, however, sealed himself with the sign of the Cross and said, “O God of Dimitrios, help me!” Nestoras engaged the gladiator in battle and with a mortal blow from his sword, Lyaeus lay lifeless on the ground. Furious at the loss of his favourite gladiator, Maximian ordered that Nestoras was to be beheaded with the sword that defeated Lyaeus. Maximian recognised Dimitrios’ involvement as the inspiring power behind Nestoras, so the emperor also sentenced Dimitrios to execution by spearing on 26 October, 306AD. Christians buried him at the site of his execution and because of the beautiful scent permeating his tomb, people named him “Myrrh-Gusher” or “Myrrh-Streamer.”
Myrrh still flows from his relics to this day. The relics are kept in Thessaloniki where a church is dedicated to him. As well as being his birth and resting place, people believe that the intervention of Saint Dimitrios saved Thessaloniki from many attacks. The liberation of Thessaloniki during the Balkan War of 1912 also coincides with the feast day of Saint Dimitrios. Saint Dimitrios is also known as a miracle worker and has performed many miracles, especially in Thessaloniki, which has given him the title, “Defender of Thessaloniki.”
Our parish is blessed with a relic of Saint Dimitrios, and we honour him on 26 October.
Saint Dimitrios,
Moonee Ponds
Saint Dimitrios, Moonee Ponds is a parish of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia in the Diocese of Chora, located in Melbourne’s north west. Our community is open to anyone in need of spiritual guidance.